2007 Turf Awards

2007 TURF AWARDS

JANUARY 5, 2008

by Kellie Reilly

With the turning of the calendar page to a brand new year, it's time to look

back on the highlights, and lowlights, of the 2007 turf scene. Rather than

serving up a dry as dust rehash, a la the typical "Year in Review" piece, I'll

hand out awards -- a few dubious, but most genuine expressions of appreciation

-- to hail the season's noteworthy gladiators.

The inaugural Reilly Awards don't have the cache of the Eclipses, or a

coveted statuette to accompany them, but in a few decades' time, they might just

catch on. I've tried to spread the wealth as much as possible, in an effort to

avoid duplicate honorees. Nearly all of the categories have three winners -- one

each for the turf (T) and filly and mare turf (F/M T) divisions in America, plus

an international (I) recipient. Like any self-respecting awards show, I'll open

with the lesser honors and build to the greatest.

Race with the Most Mayhem that Didn't Involve a Tragedy

T -- Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) at Fair Grounds. Anyone who saw

EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck) being floated out past the center of the course

approaching the far turn wouldn't have given him a chance of winning, in this or

any alternate universe, but the dark bay was clever enough to regroup from that

seemingly hopeless position. Rapidly calculating the ground loss and distance

still to be covered, factoring in the estimated arrival time, and arriving at

the required acceleration, Einstein duly delivered.

F/M T -- Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Monmouth. Why SIMPLY PERFECT

(GB) decided to blow the second turn, eliminating a few of her opponents in the

process, we'll never know. Maybe she was auditioning for a remake of Ben Hur.

I -- Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) at Longchamp. DYLAN THOMAS (Ire)

interfered with several horses as he commenced a starboard drift in the stretch,

but the result was rightly allowed to stand, as his waywardness did not

materially affect the outcome. The stewards took so much time to decide,

however, that they may as well have been framing yet another global climate

treaty.

Most Mysterious Fizzle to a Promising Campaign

T -- SKY CONQUEROR (Sky Classic) looked like a rising star in the Woodford

Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day, overcoming a nosedive at the

start to get up in the last stride. The Canadian was unable to follow through

with further top-level conquests, however, and wound up playing the role of the

conquered.

F/M T -- MAKDERAH (Ire) earned rave reviews from this corner, and elsewhere,

when producing a dizzying burst of speed to romp in the New York S. (G2) at

Belmont. We never saw those fireworks again in her remaining outings.

I -- SIXTIES ICON (Galileo [Ire]), the winner of the 2006 St Leger

(Eng-G1), kicked off his 2007 season with a sparkling score in the Jockey Club

S. (Eng-G2). His form abruptly tailed off thereafter, and the illusory Age of

Aquarius never dawned for him.

Most Gnawing "What Might Have Been"

T -- SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) appeared set for a brilliant campaign,

only to be sidelined by injury after a single start. In that lone outing in the

Maker's Mark Mile S. (G2), he was just outdueled by a race-fit Kip Deville

(Kipling), the eventual Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner. How much would a sound

Showing Up have been able to achieve? Hopefully, he'll be healthy enough to live

up to his name in 2008.

F/M T -- KAREN'S CAPER, who was only two noses away from capturing the 2005

Coronation S. (Eng-G1) and Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S.

(G1), may have been on the brink of garnering an elusive Grade 1 victory in

2007. The Stonerside Stable homebred opened her season in grand style with a

course record-setting victory in the Eatontown S. (G3) at Monmouth, but

unfortunately, she suffered a setback and was eventually retired. Maybe her

foals will prove to be less camera-shy.

I -- One year ago, no one would have imagined that first-year stallion GEORGE

WASHINGTON (Ire) would become a tragic figure. If he hadn't been subfertile, he

would have enjoyed his retirement at stud in the Emerald Isle, and the Coolmore

brain trust would never have returned him to Aidan O'Brien. If he hadn't been a

marvelously gifted athlete, he wouldn't have run so well in his three races back

from stud, and he wouldn't have inspired his connections to pursue the ultimate

dream of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). If he hadn't tried so hard, giving his

all, maybe he wouldn't have suffered that fatal breakdown in the Monmouth slop.

A thousand "Ifs," but only one, sad, certainty.

Most Heroic Performance in Defeat

T -- EXCELLENT ART (GB) in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Monmouth. Despite

breaking from the dreadful post 12, and slogging through bottomless ground that

he did not like, the O'Brien sophomore rallied strongly for runner-up honors to

Kip Deville.

F/M T -- IRRIDESCENCE (SAf) in the Beverly D. S. (G1) at Arlington Park. After

tracking the pace on rain-softened ground, the Mike de Kock mare kicked clear

and did her utmost to stave off Royal Highness (Ger), going down grudgingly by a

head.

I -- PURPLE MOON (Galileo [Ire]) in the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) at Flemington.

The one-time hurdler very nearly became the fourth Northern Hemisphere shipper

to capture the race that stops a nation. Traveling beautifully at every stage of

the two-mile handicap, the Luca Cumani charge set sail for home at the top of

the stretch, only to be eclipsed late by the flying Efficient (Zabeel).

Best Campaign without a Grade/Group 1 Score

T -- COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid) came awfully close in the Shadwell Turf Mile

S. (G1) at Keeneland, held on for third in the Breeders' Cup Mile and tired late

when relegated to fourth in the Manhattan H. (G1) in his three attempts at the

elite level.

F/M T -- HONEY RYDER distinguished herself exceptionally well, especially versus

males. The gray was just caught in the Gulfstream Park Turf S. (G1) and finished

an honorable second to likely Eclipse Award winner English Channel in the United

Nations S. (G1). If she didn't have to take the overland route in the Breeders'

Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Honey Ryder might have landed the spoils.

I -- YOUMZAIN (Sinndar) narrowly failed to collar Dylan Thomas in the Arc, after

garnering placings in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), Tattersalls Gold Cup S.

(Ire-G1) and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1).

Most Lethal Surprise

T -- GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge) refused to doff his hat to 3-5

favorite English Channel in the Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) at Saratoga.

Instead, the 15-1 outsider charged from far off the pace to blow past his more

accomplished rival and score by three handy lengths.

F/M T -- LAHUDOOD (GB) rebounded from a last-place finish in the Beverly D. to

upset Wait a While (Maria's Mon) and Royal Highness, among others, as a 21-1

longshot in the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) at Belmont. The Shadwell

colorbearer was again dismissed at 11-1 in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf,

largely because of her alleged aversion to soft ground, and plowed through to

another upset victory.

I -- Nakayama specialist MATSURIDA GOGH (Sunday Silence) pulled a monumental

shocker in the Arima Kinen (Jpn-G1), upstaging Japan's finest at a huge price.

Few could have envisioned such a form reversal from a horse who had been drubbed

in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (Jpn-G1) and Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Jpn-G1).

Most Impressive Front-Running Tour de Force

T -- SUNRIVER (Saint Ballado) annihilated the field in the Hollywood Turf Cup

S. (G1), helping to restore some luster to an event that has been lacking in

recent years.

F/M T -- MY TYPHOON (Ire) was allowed to get away with a leisurely, uncontested

pace in the Just a Game S. (G2) at Belmont, and the royally bred mare lashed

Wait a While and her other opponents with a devastating 3 3/4-length victory.

I -- TOYLSOME, Manduro's one-time pacemaker, ran his toiling rivals ragged to

upset the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1).

Best Arrival in the Nick of Time

T -- BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) stormed through along the inside in the

Manhattan, getting the last word in a dramatic four-way finish.

F/M T -- MRS. LINDSAY (Theatrical [Ire]) looked beaten in deep stretch of the

E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine, but kicked into another gear in the final

yards to collar a slowing Sealy Hill (Point Given).

I -- DARJINA (Zamindar) finished with a flourish to nail Finsceal Beo (Mr.

Greeley) by a head in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand

Guineas) (Fr-G1). Not only did that foreshadow Darjina's future success on the

mile scene, but it also prevented an unprecedented three-Guineas sweep by

Finsceal Beo.

Most Breathtaking, Instantaneous Acceleration

T -- SHAKESPEARE answered the "To be or not to be" question in a matter of

strides in the Woodbine Mile S. (Can-G1), rallying from an apparently one-paced

fourth into a warp-speed winner.

F/M T -- LADY OF VENICE (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) majestically sailed past most of

the field in less than half a furlong in the CashCall Mile Invitational S. (G2)

at Hollywood Park and was actually gearing down approaching the wire.

I -- SACRED KINGDOM (Encosta de Lago) went from a tracking position to a

commanding leader in about two jumps in the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) at Sha Tin.

So comfortable was jockey Gerald Mosse in the stretch that he gave his mount a

congratulatory pat on the head, while his pursuers were all under the whip.

Bravest Performance in Victory

T -- OUT OF CONTROL (Brz) (Vettori), still only a three-year-old by Southern

Hemisphere reckoning, passed The Tin Man not once, but twice, en route to taking

the American Invitational H. (G2) at Hollywood Park. Once The Tin Man battled

back to reclaim the advantage, it would have been perfectly natural for Out of

Control to throw in the towel. But the Bobby Frankel colt came right back at the

grand old veteran and simply outbattled him to the line.

F/M T -- VACARE (Lear Fan) slipped through along the inside to wrest command

from Precious Kitten (Catienus) in the First Lady S. (G2) at Keeneland, but she

had to dig down deep to keep her tenuous lead through the stretch. Indeed,

Vacare's face was a study in grim determination.

I -- ADMIRE MOON was all heart and iron will in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1). Racing at a 12-furlong trip that he hadn't previously mastered, and a bit

overeager in the opening stages, the Darley acquisition struck the front at the

head of the demanding Tokyo straight and successfully fought off the deep

closers who were calling on the far outside.

Most Ruthless Triumph

T -- ENGLISH CHANNEL demolished the Breeders' Cup record for biggest margin

of victory in the Turf (G1) when sluicing through the Monmouth swamp by seven

lengths. The classy chestnut probably would not have won in such spectacular

fashion had the turf been firm, but he still deserves all the praise for turning

a championship event into an utter rout.

F/M T -- RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) treated her rivals in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) with

consummate disdain, uncorking a monstrous move on the turn and leaving no doubt

about her superiority.

I -- AUTHORIZED chose precisely the right moment, the hallowed Epsom Derby

(Eng-G1), to turn in his career-best effort. Cruising up ominously to join the

leaders in the stretch, the Peter Chapple-Hyam charge left them for dead as he

kicked clear.

Best Late Bloomers

T -- CLOUDY'S KNIGHT (Lord Avie) improved out of all recognition as a

seven-year-old to earn the accolade of Canada's champion turf horse. The

chestnut gelding captured the Fair Grounds H. (G3), finished second to Einstein

in the Muniz, just missed by a nostril in the Stars and Stripes H. (G3), and

checked in a rallying second in the Nijinsky S. (Can-G2) before wrapping up the

year with a pair of stellar efforts. Cloudy's Knight landed the Sky Classic S.

(Can-G2), then drove to a narrow score in the Canadian International S. (Can-G1)

over highly touted European invaders.

F/M T -- NASHOBA'S KEY (Silver Hawk) rose from an unraced four-year-old in

January to an unbeaten multiple Grade 1 heroine by the end of September.

Moreover, the Carla Gaines filly proved to be quite versatile, taking the Milady

H. (G2) and Vanity Invitational H. (G1) on Hollywood's Cushion Track, the

Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) on Del Mar's Polytrack and the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1)

on the turf at Oak Tree. She clearly wasn't suited by the mire at Monmouth when

suffering her first loss in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, but she kept on

resolutely to finish a creditable fourth.

I -- DOCTOR DINO (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) graduated to become a high-class

performer on the global stage at the age of five. After placing in the Prix

Ganay (Fr-G1), Singapore Airlines International Cup (Mal-G1) and Arlington

Million S. (G1), the French-based chestnut broke through with a tally in the Man

o' War S. (G1). A troubled third in the Champion S. (Eng-G1), Doctor Dino saved

his best for last when rolling to a convincing win in the Hong Kong Vase

(HK-G1).

Most Exciting Stars on the Rise

T -- COWBOY CAL (Giant's Causeway) was already branded for this award, which

was safely tucked away in the hermetically sealed Price Waterhouse Cooper

envelope, even before his Tropical Park Derby (G3) romp on New Year's Day.

Indeed, the Todd Pletcher pupil rounded up this honor by virtue of his 6

1/4-length demolition job in the Laurel Futurity. Whether he successfully

switches to the dirt or not, Cowboy Cal rates as a seriously promising turf

campaigner for 2008.

F/M T -- It doesn't take a forensics expert to identify CRIMINOLOGIST (Maria's

Mon) as an upwardly mobile performer. The Shug McGaughey filly won her last four

starts in 2007, including a course-record setting romp in the Perfect Sting S.

at Saratoga, the Athenia H. (G3) at Belmont and the Cardinal H. (G3) at

Churchill.

I -- NEW APPROACH (Galileo [Ire]) was a perfect five-for-five during his

juvenile campaign, garnering such prestigious events as the National S. (Ire-G1)

and Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1). Trainer Jim Bolger has famously compared him to

Secretariat, a prophecy that will be tested this year. In any event, New

Approach's tactical speed, abundant stamina and raw power make him an explosive

classics prospect.

Most Exceptional Virtue Displayed Every Time

T -- THE TIN MAN never shirked his duty during his nine-year-old campaign,

capturing the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in his reappearance, only stubbornly yielding

to Out of Control in the American, Jambalaya (Langfuhr) in the Arlington Million

and Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill) in the Clement L. Hirsch Turf

Championship S. (G1). This Tin Man has more than his fair share of heart.

F/M T -- PRECIOUS KITTEN could not have been more dependable in 2007, winning or

placing second in eight of her nine starts, with the lone exception coming when

she was wiped out by Simply Perfect's antics in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare

Turf. Even more remarkably, the Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred compiled this mark

while racing exclusively in graded company, and she improved over the course of

the year. By the time of her seasonal finale in the Matriarch S. (G1), the

kitten had been transformed into a lioness, powering to a decisive score.

I -- RAMONTI (Martino Alonso) earned four Group 1 successes, and finished

runner-up in two other top-drawer contests, by dint of his superior battling

qualities. The Godolphin star is one you want in your corner in a street fight,

and he is a devilishly tough horse to pass, as a stream of rivals learned in the

Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1), Sussex S. (Eng-G1), Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) and

Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1).

World's Best Turf Distaffer

There was nothing timid about PEEPING FAWN (Danehill) in 2007. The O'Brien

filly took a while to learn her job, breaking her maiden in her fourth start in

May, but once she had mastered the game, she became a smashing Group 1 heroine.

Neither the state of the ground, nor a demanding schedule, made the slightest

difference to her. Third in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and a flying

second in the Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1), Peeping Fawn tore through her next four races

in succession. She thrashed her elders in the Pretty Polly S. (Ire-G1), romped

in the Irish Oaks (Ire-G1), grew bored when in front in the Nassau S. (Eng-G1),

and put the coda to her campaign with a four-length stroll in the Yorkshire Oaks

(Eng-G1). Peeping Fawn was not seen out again, but she had done more than

enough.

World's Best Turf Performer

MANDURO wasn't merely undefeated from five outings in 2007. The Andre Fabre

charge emphatically dismissed every rival, at a variety of distances ranging

from one to 1 1/2 miles. An imperious winner of the Earl of Sefton S. (Eng-G3)

and Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-G1) by a combined nine lengths, the outstanding

German-bred summarily rebuffed Dylan Thomas in the Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1)

at Royal Ascot, embarrassed several milers in the Prix Jacques le Marois

(Fr-G1), and stormed to victory in the Prix Foy (Fr-G2), despite suffering a

career-ending injury in the latter. The nearly black Manduro seemed to be on

cruise control much of the time in his races, gathered momentum at the decisive

juncture, and strode clear with a minimum of fuss. I suspect that he usually had

a bit more up his sleeve that he just didn't need to call upon, and we'll never

know just how extraordinary he truly was. 

Lifetime Achievement Award

A retrospective just wouldn't be complete without paying homage to the late,

great JOHN HENRY, the first turf horse I ever followed, who died on October 8 at

the age of 32. As a nine-year-old, I watched the 1981 Arlington Million on

television, frantic that The Bart was staying on so insistently, and desperate

for John Henry to get up in time. I was devastated when Tolomeo (Ire) denied him

in the 1983 Arlington Million, but celebrated joyously when John Henry regained

his crown in the 1984 edition. Now, as a writer, I come full circle by honoring the legendary

Hall of Famer who helped to stoke my interest in turf racing. Rest in peace,

John Henry.